EM 1110-2-2300

30 July 2004

US Army Corps
of Engineers®
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN

General Design and Construction

Considerations for Earth and
Rock-Fill Dams

ENGINEER MANUAL
 AVAILABILITY
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neers (USACE) publications are available on the Internet at
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repository for all official USACE engineer regulations, circu-
lars, manuals, and other documents originating from
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 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY EM 1110-2-2300
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CECW-EG Washington, DC 20314-1000

Manual
No. 1110-2-2300 30 July 2004

Engineering and Design

GENERAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS
FOR EARTH AND ROCK-FILL DAMS
Subject Paragraph Page

Chapter 1
Introduction
Purpose............................................................................................................................1-1 1-1
Applicability ...................................................................................................................1-2 1-1
References.......................................................................................................................1-3 1-1
Overview of Manual .......................................................................................................1-4 1-1

Chapter 2
General Considerations
General............................................................................................................................2-1 2-1
Civil Works Project Process ...........................................................................................2-2 2-2
Types of Embankment Dams..........................................................................................2-3 2-3
Basic Requirements ........................................................................................................2-4 2-5
Selection of Embankment Type......................................................................................2-5 2-7
Environmental Considerations........................................................................................2-6 2-8

Chapter 3
Field Investigations and Laboratory Testing
Geological and Subsurface Explorations and Field Tests...............................................3-1 3-1
Laboratory Testing..........................................................................................................3-2 3-4

Chapter 4
General Design Considerations
General............................................................................................................................4-1 4-1
Freeboard........................................................................................................................4-2 4-3
Top Width.......................................................................................................................4-3 4-3
Alignment .......................................................................................................................4-4 4-3
Embankment ...................................................................................................................4-5 4-3
Abutments.......................................................................................................................4-6 4-3
Performance Parameters .................................................................................................4-7 4-4
Earthquake Effects..........................................................................................................4-8 4-5
Coordination Between Design and Construction............................................................4-9 4-5
Value Engineering Proposals..........................................................................................4-10 4-6
Partnering Between the Owner and Contractor ..............................................................4-11 4-6

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Subject Paragraph Page

Modifications to Embankment Dams to Accommodate New or Revised Inflow

Design Floods or to Provide Additional Storage for Water Supply
or Other Purposes............................................................................................................4-12 4-7

Chapter 5
Foundation and Abutment Preparation
Preparation......................................................................................................................5-1 5-1
Strengthening the Foundation.........................................................................................5-2 5-3
Dewatering the Working Area........................................................................................5-3 5-3

Chapter 6
Seepage Control
General............................................................................................................................6-1 6-1
Embankment ...................................................................................................................6-2 6-1
Earth Foundations...........................................................................................................6-3 6-1
Rock Foundations ...........................................................................................................6-4 6-5
Abutments.......................................................................................................................6-5 6-6
Adjacent to Outlet Conduits............................................................................................6-6 6-6
Beneath Spillways and Stilling Basins............................................................................6-7 6-6
Seepage Control Against Earthquake Effects.................................................................6-8 6-7

Chapter 7
Embankment Design
Embankment Materials...................................................................................................7-1 7-1
Zoning.............................................................................................................................7-2 7-2
Cracking..........................................................................................................................7-3 7-3
Filter Design....................................................................................................................7-4 7-8
Consolidation and Excess Porewater Pressures..............................................................7-5 7-8
Embankment Slopes and Berms .....................................................................................7-6 7-9
Embankment Reinforcement ..........................................................................................7-7 7-9
Compaction Requirements..............................................................................................7-8 7-10
Slope Protection..............................................................................................................7-9 7-14

Chapter 8
Appurtenant Structures
Outlet Works...................................................................................................................8-1 8-1
Spillway..........................................................................................................................8-2 8-1
Other Important Considerations......................................................................................8-3 8-2

Chapter 9
General Construction Considerations
General............................................................................................................................9-1 9-1
Obtaining Quality Construction......................................................................................9-2 9-1
Stage Construction..........................................................................................................9-3 9-2
Stream Diversion ............................................................................................................9-4 9-2
Closure Section...............................................................................................................9-5 9-3
Construction/Design Interface ........................................................................................9-6 9-4
Visual Observations........................................................................................................9-7 9-4
Compaction Control........................................................................................................9-8 9-4

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Subject Paragraph Page

Initial Reservoir Filling...................................................................................................9-9 9-5

Construction Records and Reports..................................................................................9-10 9-6

Chapter 10
Instrumentation
General............................................................................................................................10-1 10-1
Instrumentation Plan and Records ..................................................................................10-2 10-1
Types of Instrumentation................................................................................................10-3 10-3
Discussion of Devices.....................................................................................................10-4 10-3
Measurements of Seepage Quantities.............................................................................10-5 10-4
Automated Data Acquisition Systems ............................................................................10-6 10-4

Appendix A
References

Appendix B
Filter Design

Appendix C
Slope Protection

Appendix D
Automatic Data Acquisition Systems

Appendix E
Process for Establishing Performance Parameters

Appendix F
Methods of Dam Raising

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Chapter 1
Introduction

1-1. Purpose

This manual presents fundamental principles underlying the design and construction of earth and rock-fill
dams. The general principles presented herein are also applicable to the design and construction of earth
levees. The construction of earth dams by hydraulic means was curtailed in the 1940's due to economic
considerations and liquefaction concerns during earthquake loading and are not discussed herein.

1-2. Applicability

This manual applies to HQUSACE elements, major subordinate commands, districts, laboratories, and field
operating activities having responsibility for the design and construction of earth and rock-fill dams.

1-3. References

Required and related publications are listed in Appendix A.

1-4. Overview of Manual

The objective of this manual is to present guidance onthe design, construction, and performance monitoring
of and modifications to embankment dams. The manual presents general guidance and is not intended to
supplant the creative thinking and judgment of the designer for a particular project.

The increased development and expansion of the population in the Nation’s watersheds have created a
definite need to develop additional water supply. In many areas the existing national infrastructure cannot
meet these needs. The increase in urban development has also had a negative impact on water quality. The
public is asking that preservation of the environment be an equal goal with the economic benefits of water
resources projects. Since the current infrastructure is not meeting public needs, this situation is placing lives,
livelihood, and property at risk. Several options are available to provide the additional quantity of water. The
simplest and most cost-effective method to obtain the quantities needed is to add additional storage at existing
dams. Many of the Nation’s existing water resources projects must be modified to add the additional purpose
of water supply. In the future, USACE designers will be challenged with requests by the customers and
sponsors to modify existing dams to add water supply to other purposes of existing dams. These modifica-
tions must include environmental considerations and mitigation.

1-1